BEA dealt first loss since 2011

October 6, 2013

The tables were turned on the Blue Earth Area football team in their second South Central Conference matchup this time against Waseca.

The result was a 30-18 defeat to the Bluejays on Sept. 27, at Waseca High School.

You have to go back to Nov. 12, 2011, since the Bucs last lost a game.

Article Photos

The Buccaneers defense allowed the Bluejays to run wild for 324 yards. Previously, the most yards given up by the maroon and gold was 86 yards. No team before Waseca tallied more than 80 yards on the ground versus the Bucs; the Buccaneers held their previous four opponent to an average of 67 yards per game.

As a team, BEA averaged 300 yards per game on the ground coming into their matchup with Waseca. Friday night, they were held to 134. Outside of Luke Schavey's 104 yards rushing, the team did not establish a balanced rushing attack.

"Waseca controlled the line of scrimmage and, as a result, controlled the game," Coach Randy Kuechenmeister says. "Our inability to run the ball really limited what we could do offensively."

Schavey completed 10 of 25 pass attempts for 177 yards and two touchdowns for the Bucs.

Gus Phillips led the way with 96 yards receiving and a touchdown.

BEA's defense had a hard time slowing down Waseca quarterback Thomas O'Neil. He threw for 108 yards and a touchdown, but did most of his damage on the ground, rushing for a game high 234 yards and three touchdowns.

"Our plan was to try and keep him (O'Neil) contained between the tackles," Kuechenmeister says. "However, with their size, speed and strength that was a difficult task."

O'Neil scored on the game's second play from scrimmage. A routine run turned into a 67-yard touchdown.

The Bucs' first possession did not last long. They punted and gave the ball right back to the Bluejays.

O'Neil then completed a pass to Jacob Laube, who took the ball to the endzone on a 64-yard receiving touchdown.

The Buccaneers did not go quietly into the night, however. They received a spark from Camden Bowers and David Franta on the very next play.

Bowers took the next kickoff and tossed a lateral to Franta who returned the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. The score cut into Waseca's lead, making it 16-6.

That would be the last scoring play of the half as the Bluejays took that 16-6 lead into halftime.

Schavey's first passing attempt of the second half was picked off by Laube.

Waseca didn't waste any time; two plays later, O'Neil ran for a 40-yard touchdown widening the lead for the Bluejays, 24-6.

The maroon and gold answered right back with a three-play drive of their own, which resulted in a 64-yard receiving touchdown by Gus Phillips.

Unfortunately, 12 was as close as the Buccaneers would get until the final whistle sounded.

On the Bucs' last drive, Derek Johnson caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Schavey, but it was too little too late, as BEA fell for the first time this year.

Franta led the team with 17 total tackles (12 solo).

"I thought we hung in there defensively and actually played better as the game went on," Kuechenmeister says. "We still need to limit our penalties but overall, I was proud of our effort."

The BEA Bucs took on the St. Peter Saints this past Friday, Oct. 4, a game played after the Faribault County Register deadline. Game analysis and photos will be included in the next Register.

This coming week, on Friday, Oct. 11, the Buccaneers will host the Fairmont Cardinals for a game at Wilson Field at 7 p.m.